On Wednesday, the state of California filed an appeal of a judge's decision blocking the state's ban on foie gras. The restaurant industry and foie gras producers remain at odds with animal rights activist.

Ellen Brody, a jewelry store employee and a mother of three grown daughters, is the focus of investigations surrounding Tuesday's Metro-North crash in Valhalla, N.Y. Brody's vehicle was stopped on the train tracks when the train struck it, killing her and five men on board.

Pfeiffer, who has advised Obama since the 2008 presidential campaign and is one of the last of the president's close confidants from that period to be leaving his inner circle, is stepping down from his post in March, the White House said.

Tommy Thompson is scheduled for an extradition hearing Wednesday in a federal court in Florida. His former business associates want to know what happened to millions of dollars' worth of gold he recovered from a historic shipwreck.

The policy rethink reflects what US officials say is a frustration with Moscow's continued support for rebels despite months of international economic sanctions, and the collapse of the latest attempt at peace talks last weekend.

Sublette County Sheriff Stephen Haskell imposed the new dress code in the western Wyoming county. He says sheriffs look like a "Skittles platoon." One deputy quit rather than take off his hat and boots.